Here is another of my holiday catch-up race reports. At least now we are back in the same year as the race. They are a little brief as I rack my brains to remember how the race went down, so here is one from Lochore Meadows Sprint Triathlon 2017. One thing that I do remember is that my Garmin corrupted as soon as I crossed the finish line ☹️ .

Race-day

My usual inability to get out the house on time meant we were rushing into registration with only seconds to spare before it closed. I hate being rushed in transition, but it all worked out fine. I know that it only takes me a few minutes to set-up my transition, but I don’t like to be rushed doing it.

Swim – 750m, 15:54

Little longer swim than usual, although it felt fine. I wonder if the course was a little long – no Garmin to check though as it died…

T1 – 02:37

Smooth as butter, as far as I remember.

Bike – 24km, 43:02

Great time for me, especially considering the extra 4km over a standard sprint distance course. In fact, it was so fast that Wiebke missed me coming back in, as I was faster than predicted.

The course is relatively hilly, and the first few k are a little busy, but as soon as you turn on to the side-roads, it’s a great, fair course.

T2 – 01:35

This time I reverted to type and struggled to find my transition spot, even though they were arranged by number. Idiot!

Run – 5km, 22:27

The run is within Lochore Meadows park on paths and roads and I can only the assume that the course was short. Whilst it was a good run, it didn’t feel like a PB rivalling run. As the Garmin was busted, I can’t be sure though.

Finish – 01:25:38

Couldn’t have asked for more in my first race of the year. Executed well and put in some good run and bike performances. Only shame is that the Garmin corrupted. I think my 910xt is ageing badly – the altimeter is broken and regularly records altitudes of ~18,000m – and now it can’t be trusted to record events

This post concerns the 2016 World Triathlon Leeds race – only bad time keeping has meant I’m publishing it over a year late. My bad!

My A-race of the year. My first Olympic distance race. My first split transition race. However you put it, World Triathlon Leeds was going to be a big race! And as you may be aware from the negative press and social media coverage, it did not quite go to plan for the race organisers. (A little known company who go by the name of Ironman…). But I was determined not to let that get in my way and to have a good race regardless of the issues I’d had during registration.

Finally, after 2 failedattempts due to injury, I made it to the start line of a half marathon – the Edinburgh Half Marathon 2016. Having entered my girlfriend for this race as my Christmas present to her (such a thoughtful boyfriend…), I thought I should also enter myself for it. It’d be a nice challenge for the two of us to do together, and I would finally get a result up for a half marathon.

I had the privilege to be a part of the technical official team for this weekend, as part of my progression along the officiating pathway. Currently I’m restricted to duathlons and pool swims, but come mid-June, I’ll qualify for the great wide world of open water!

The video is a very truthful depiction of our role at the event; pre-race checks, keeping the race fair and safe during the event and checking the results after the event. The only thing I’d suggest is missing is showing just how much fun it can be and how rewarding it is to be part of people’s races, especially at these larger events where we are working in a small team. It is certainly a great way to get to know the local triathlon community; our work interacts with Triathlon Scotland staff, event organisers, marshals, other officials and competitors. There is even the opportunity to go all the way to the top of the officiating ladder, at major games such as the Olympics!

Triathlon Scotland is always looking for more people to join the technical official team, so check out their website. They’ve just announced a course for the 23rd July, so there is even time to qualify this season!

The St Andrews Spring Sprint was a last minute addition to my race calendar, entering only on the Tuesday before a Sunday race. But I realised it would serve an important purpose in trying a few things out before my first standard distance race in few weeks, and give me a good excuse to explore St Andrews for the first time. Continue reading St Andrews Spring Sprint Triathlon – Race report→

First race of the year, second triathlon in two years and yet it was fair to say that I wasn’t looking forward to racing at Tranent Sprint Triathlon. I just had this horrible feeling of being under-prepared, like one of those dreams where you have to give a presentation having never seen the slides before. It was a feeling that would turn out to have some basis in reality, at least when it came to my biking fitness.

It’s looking like my one and only race of the 2015 season, after a year of upheaval and moving city twice, was to be whilst working abroad in Boston. Knowing I would be in Boston for most of the season, I’d already made sure I had all my gear with me, just to keep in shape if nothing else. It was an added bonus to find out that the Boston Triathlon was happening whilst I was in town, and only a 10 minute walk from my apartment. Needless to say, I signed up pretty fast!

My battered copy of the triathlon rules, along with my Triathlon Scotland whistle and clipboard

As I kicked off my season of officiating earlier last month, I was again met with surprise when pulling up some athletes for rule infringements that they didn’t know about. (Or claimed not to know about…) So I thought I’d put out a list of the top 10 triathlon rules that I see broken at events.